Ban Ki-Moon and Philippines rep discuss typhoon Haiyang situation

The massive storm affected over 9.5 million people

UN, November 11. (Itar-Tass). UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Philippines representative Libran Cabactulan discussed the situation after typhoon Haiyang hit the country and affected lives of over 9.5 million people. This said in a statement the press service of the United Nations on Sunday.

The Secretary General is very concerned by the aftermath of the typhoon Haiyan, which became one of the heaviest storms that hit the land and affected lives of about 9.5 million residents of the Philippines, leading to massive destruction and forcing people to leave their homes, the statement says.

UN head assured that humanitarian staff was doing everything possible to provide aid to people affected. Although many localities are hard to reach due to damaged roads, airports and bridges, UN agencies started to fly in food and medical supplies, as well as other vital provisions, and sent crews of specialists and logistics experts, according to the UN. In particular, global community’s efforts helped to prepare aid kits for 13 thousand families affected by the typhoon.

Typhoon Haiyang caused numerous floods and landslides and virtually destroyed the coastal city of Tacloban with a population of 220 thousand people. On Sunday, Philippine authorities said that the disaster affected more than 2.1 million households, or about 9.53 million people. A day earlier, UN Under Secretary General for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos has promised the country's authorities all necessary assistance.